Debarking machine having angularly related guide roller and feed wheel



Mmd: 29, 1955 c. E. LEONARD 2,705,033

DEBARKING MACHINE HAVING ANGULARLY RELATED GUIDE ROLLER AND FEED WHEEL Filed March 19, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet l zz l. M"

7? 7 I 5: F INVENTOR 0.521; na raZ C. E. LEONARD March 29, 1955 2,705,033 DEBARKING MACHINE HAVING ANGULARLY RELATED GUIDE. ROLLER AND FEED WHEEL 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 19, 1954 INVENTOR 33$? 1955 c. E. LEONARD 9 DEBARKING MACHINE HAVING ANGULARLY RELATED GUIDE ROLLER AND FEED WHEEL 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 19, 1954 INVENTOR ATTORNEY alafieonard Mamh 1955' -c. E." LEONARD 2,705,033

DEBARKING MACHINE HAVING ANGULARLY RELATED GUIDE ROLLER AND FEED WHEEL INVENTOR we 7 CTEYLaonard ATTQR NE '1' am M11 1955 c, LEONARD 2,705,033 DEBARKING MACHINE HAVING ANGULARLY RELATED GUIDE ROLLER AND FEED WHEEL Filed March 19, 1954 5 Shegets-Sheet 5 KW -B Y United States Patent DEBARKING MACHINE HAVING ANGULARLY RELATED GUIDE ROLLER AND FEED WHEEL Carl E. Leonard, Hillsgrove, Pa.

Application March 19, 1954, Serial No. 417,298

14 Claims. (Cl. 144-208) This invention relates to a novel machine of simple construction for debarking or peeling elongated pieces of wood such as tree trunks or limbs and has for its primary object to provide a machine which may be readily controlled and operated by one man.

Another object of the invention is to provide a debarking machine including novel adjustable features enabling the machine to be utilized for debarkmg pieces of wood of different diameters, for peeling or debarkmg the wood to different depths, and for feeding the wood through the machine a different speeds; and including a yieldably mounted cutterhead operable through an aperture in a log-supporting plate.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the drawings, illustrating a presently preferred embodiment thereof, and where1n:

Figure l is a side elevational view of the machine;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view thereof taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 2-2 of Figures l and 3;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal substantially central sectional view of the machine;

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of the machrne taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the l1ne 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 (see Sheet No. 1) is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the machine shown removed;

Figure 6 (see Sheet No. 5) is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 66 of Figure 3;

Figures 7 and 8 are enlarged fragmentary sectional views taken substantially along planes as indicated by the lines 7-7 and 8-8, respectively, of Figure 6;

Figure 9 is a plan view showing one of the knives of the cutter head removed;

Figure 10 (see Sheet No. 2) is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 10-10 of Figure 3;

Figure 11 is a sectional view taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 1111 of Figure 2;

Figure 12 is an enlarged cross sectlonal view taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the hue 1212 of Figure 11;

Figure 13 (see Sheet No. 4) is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along a plane as lndtcated by the line 1313 of Figure 1, and

Figure 14 (see Sheet No. 3) is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 1414 of Figure 1.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the debarking or wood peeling machine in its entirely and comprising the invention is designated generally 15 and includes a frame or supporting structure, designated generally 16. In its preferred form, the frame 16 includes longitudinally extending transversely spaced side s1lls 17 having rear ends connected by a cross brace 18. Each sill 17 is provided with a short upstanding post 19 at its forward end and two longer longitudinally spaced upstanding posts 20 and 21 which are disposed substantially intermediate of the ends of the sill. The upper ends of the four long posts 20 and 21 are preferably connected and braced by a plate 22 which is secured to the upper 0 side, designated generally 24 and shown in Figure 3. 8

2,705,033 Patented Mar. 29, 1955 The frame 16 also includes a front cross member 25, common to both sides 23 and 24, which is supported on and secured to the upper portions of the front posts 19 and which extends outwardly therefrom, as seen in Figure 6. Each frame side 23 and 24 also includes a longitudinal beam 26, the intermediate portions of which are secured to the uprights 20 and 21 and the forward ends of which beams 26 rest on and are secured to the front cross beam 25.

If desired and to make the machine 15 portable or more readily portable, the sills 17 may be provided with skids or may be supported on ground engaging wheels.

A shaft 27 extends through lower portions of the rear uprights 21 and is journaled therein. A belt pulley 28 is fixed to the shaft 27 outwardly of the frame side 24 and is driven by an endless belt 29. The belt 29 may be driven in any suitable manner, not shown, as by a pulley on a power takeoff shaft of a tractor, by :an engine mounted on the rear portion of the frame 16, or by any other suitable power source. The rear end of a cutter supporting frame 30 is swingably supported on the intermediate portion of the shaft 27 between the uprights 21 for vertical swinging movement, and extends forwardly from said shaft. A multiple belt pulley 31 is fixed to the shaft 27 on one side of the frame 30 and a spacing sleeve 32 is loosely disposed on the shaft 27 between the belt pulley 31 and the adjacent right-hand upright 21. A spacing sleeve 33 is disposed on the shaft 27 between the other upright 21 and the adjacent side of the frame 30 to retain the shaft 27 against sliding movement in the frame 16 and to prevent sliding movement of the cutter supporting frame 30 on said shaft. A small belt pulley 34 is fixed to the shaft 27 on the outer side of the left-hand upright 21.

A shaft 35 is journaled in and supported by bearings 36 which are secured to the uprights 21 above the shaft 27. A large belt pulley 37 is fixed to one: end of the shaft 35, substantially in alignment with the belt pulley 34 and is connected to said belt pulley 34 by an endless belt 38.

An upper shaft 39 is journaled in bearings 40 which are fixed to the uprights 21 above the shaft 35. The shaft 35 is held against sliding movement in the bearings 36 by a sleeve 41 which is fixed thereto and which engages the bearing 36 of the left frame side 23 and which is disposed between said bearings 36. A pinion 42 is fixed to the shaft 35 adjacent the right-hand frame side 24 and has a hub 43 engaging the bearing 36 thereof and cooperating with the sleeve 41 to prevent sliding movement of the shaft 35 in the bearings 36. A large gear 44 is fixed to the upper shaft 39 and meshes with the pinion 42. A sleeve 45 is loosely disposed on the Zlaaft 39 between the gear 44 and the right-hand bearing A feeder wheel frame, designated generally 46, includes spaced longitudinal beams 47 having rear end portions turnably mounted on the shaft 39 for vertical swinging movement of the frame 46. One of the beams 47 is disposed between the gear 44 and a retaining sleeve 48 which is fixed to the shaft 39 and the other beam 47 is located adjacent the left-hand upright 21. A sprocket wheel 49 is fixed to the shaft 39 between said last mentioned beam and the retaining sleeve 48. The frame 46 has cross braces 50 which are connected to the beams 47 at points spaced from one another and from the ends of said frame 46, as seen in Figure 3.

A belt tightener bellcrank 51 is pivotally mounted at its apex by a pivot member 52 on the outer side of the left-hand upright 21, above and adjacent the belt pulley 34. A roller 53 is journaled on a short arm of the bellcrank 51 in a position to engage a flight of the belt 38 when the bellcrank 51 is rocked counterclockwise as seen in Figure l. The belt tightener also includes a long lever 54 which is pivotally mounted near to but spaced from its rear end on a bolt 55 which is supported by a brace member 56 which extends between and is suitably secured to the outer sides of the left-hand uprights 20 and 21, near the upper ends thereof. An eyebolt 57 is adjustably secured to and depends from the rear end of the lever 54 and is connected to the other longer arm of the bellcrank 51 by a connecting member 58. The other forward end of the lever 54 forms a handle which is disposed above the forward portion of the frame 16. A latch bar 59 having an outwardly facing toothed edge 60, as best seen in Figure 14, is secured to the forward side of the left-hand upright 20 and the teeth 60 thereof project beyond the outer side of said upright 20 and are inclined downwardly to selectively receive an upwardly inclined end of a latch element 61 which is fixed to and carried by the lever 54. The lever 54 has sufficient rocking movement or play transversely on the pivot 55 to permit the latch element 61 to be moved into and out of engagement between the teeth 60. By swinging downwardly on the forward end of the lever 54, the bellcrank 51 is rocked upwardly to move the roller into engagement with the belt 38 for tensioning said belt for driving the large pulley 37 from the smaller pulley 34, and the extent that the belt is thus tightened will vary the speed at which the pulley 37 and shafts 35 and 39 are driven.

A pair of elongated angle members 62 (see Figs. 3 and 6) are secured to the inner side of the forward portions of the beams 26 and have inwardly extending top flanges 63 which are disposed above the level of the beams 26 and which are inclined downwardly and rearwardly toward the rear of the frame 16. A top plate 64 is supported on the flanges 63 and is secured thereto by fastenings 65 and said plate is likewise inclined downwardly and rearwardly of the frame 16. The plate 64 is provided with an opening 66, as best seen in Figure 2, for accommodating a cutter head, hereinafter to be described.

As seen in Figure 2, a pair of elongated bars 67 of angular cross section have bottom flanges 68 which are slidably disposed on the top surfaces of the beams 26 and which are provided with longitudinally elongated slots 69 which slidably engage the shanks of headed fastenings 70, which secure the bars 67 slidably on the beams 26. The bars 67 have upturned forward ends including transverse front portions 71 and parallel inner portions 72. A shaft 73 extends loosely through the inner portions 72 and is supported thereby. A large log-guiding and log-abutting roller 74 is idly journaled on the intermediate portion of the shaft 73 between spacing sleeves 75 which are disposed on the shaft 73 between the ends of the guide roller 74 and said inner walls 72.

Bearing members 76 are fixed to and extend upwardly from the forward ends of the beams 26 to journal unthreaded forward portions of feed screws 77, the rear portions of which extend threadedly through the front walls 71. The feed screws 77 are held against sliding movement through the bearings 76 by collars 78 which are fixed thereto and which straddle said bearings. Cranks 79 are fixed to the forward ends of the feed screws 77 for individually turning said feed screws for moving the bars 67 individually or simultaneously either forwardly or rearwardly of the frame 16 for positioning the axis of the guide roller 74 at various angles relatively to a transverse axis of the frame 16 and also for positioning said guide roller 74 at different positions relatively to a rear edge of the top plate 64.

A crossbar 80 is supported on the upturned flanges of the bars 67, intermediate of the ends of said bars, and is secured thereto by fastenings 81 which rise from the base portions 68, so that the crossbar 80 is movable with the bars 67 and is likewise swingable relatively to the frame when the bars 67 are individually moved as previously described. Rods 82 have rear ends pivotally connected at 83 to the ends of the crossbar 80 and extend forwardly therefrom. The forward ends of the rods 82 extend slidably through guides 84 which are fixed to and rise from the end portions of the front cross beam 25. Thus, the rods 82 are spaced outwardly a substantial distance from the uprights 20 and 21. As best seen in Figure 11, a sleeve 85 is turnably and slidably mounted on each rod 82 and has a rearwardly opening notch 86 to engage a stud 87 which projects radially from the rod 82 to normally retain the sleeve 85 nonrotatably thereon. An expansion spring 88 urges the sleeve 85 rearwardly and is disposed on the rod 82 between the forward end of the sleeve and a cross pin 89 which extends through the rod rearwardly of and spaced from the guide 84. A yoke shaped bracket 90 is secured longitudinally thereof lengthwise to the sleeve 85 and has upstanding ends supporting an axle 91 on which a roller 92 is journaled. An upright axle 93 rises from the sleeve 85 rearwardly of the yoke 90 and has an upright roller 94 journaled thereon. When the stud 87 is in engagement with the notch 86, the yoke 90 and roller 94 extend upwardly from the sleeve and rod 82. By displacing the sleeve 85 forwardly of the rod 82 against the spring 88, said sleeve can be turned to position the yoke and roller 94 in horizontal positions and the rear sleeve end is provided with a second notch 86a to engage the stud 87, as seen in Figure 12, for supporting said parts in horizontal, inoperative positions.

The forward end of the cutter head supporting frame 30 is disposed beneath the top plate 64 and has a crossbar 95 secured thereto and extending laterally therefrom, as seen in Figures 1 and 10. Hangers 96 are swingably suspended by brackets 97 which are secured to the frame beams 26 and extend loosely through openings 98 in the ends of the crossbar 95. Adjustable stops 99 in the form of nuts and washers are mounted on the lower portions of the hangers 96 for adjustably supporting coiled springs 100 which are disposed on the hangers 96 and which yieldably support the crossbar 95 and, accordingly, the forward end of the frame 30.

As best seen in Figures 6, 7 and 8, the frame 30 forwardly of the crossbar 95 is provided with transversely aligned bearings 101 for journaling a shaft 102. A cutter head 103 is fixed to said shaft between the bearings 101 and is square in cross section, as seen in Figure 7, to provide four sides for supporting four blades 104 which are arranged therearound in the form of a square. The blades 104 are secured to the head 103 by fastenings 105. Each blade has a protruding leading edge which is beveled to form the cutting edge 106 thereof. A small multiple belt pulley 107 is fixed to one end of the shaft 102 and is connected by a plurality of belts 108 to the belt pulley 31, as best illustrated in Figure 2.

As seen in Figures 7 and 8, the frame 30 includes laterally spaced recessed bars 135 which are disposed below the bearings 101 and which form vertical guide slots 136, in combination with other portions of said frame 30, for slidably receiving lower portions of depth gauges 109. The depth gauges 109 extend upwardly of the frame 30 between the cutter head 103 and the bearings 101 and have vertically elongated openings 110 through which the shaft 102 extends, permitting vertical adjustment of the gauges 109 relatively to said shaft. A convexly rounded upper end 111 of the gauges 109 together with the upper portion of the cutter 103, 104 extends upwardly through the top plate opening 66, as seen in Figures 3 and 6.

Adjusting screws 112 extend threadedly through a bottom cross plate 113 of the frame 30 and have headed upper ends 114 which are swivelly mounted in lower portions of the gauge plates 109. The screws 112 may be turned for individually raising or lowering the upper gauge plate ends 111 relatively to the cutter 103, 104 to vary the extent that the cutting edges 106 will protrude above said gauge portions 111, when in uppermost positions, to thus regulate the cutting depth of the blades 104, as will hereinafter become apparent.

Bearings 115 are fixed in transverse alignment to the underside of the forward end of the beams 47 of the feed wheel supporting frame 46 for journaling end portions of a shaft 116. A feed wheel, designated generally 117, is fixed to the shaft 116 between said bearings 115 and comprises a plurality of disks 118 having toothed peripheries 119 which are interposed between spacing elements or washers 120. The disks 118 and washers 120 are keyed as seen at 121 to the shaft 116. A carn member comprising an elongated strip 122 has its end portions secured to opposite sides of the forward end of the beam 47 which is located adjacent the frame side 24 and has a lower portion disposed around the bearing 115 thereof and an outwardly and upwardly inclined log-ejecting cam portion 123 disposed beneath said hearing. A portion of the shaft 116 extends loosely through the inner leg of the strip 122 and a washer 124 is disposed between said leg and the adjacent spacing element 120 of the feed wheel 117. Said washer 124 and the strip 122 cooperate with a setscrew 125 which is mounted radially in the other end spacing element 120 and which engages the shaft 116 to retain the feed wheel 117 against sliding movement on the shaft 116. A sprocket wheel 126 is secured to the shaft 116 between the other beam 47 and the feed wheel 117 and said sprocket wheel is connected to the sprocket wheel 49 by an endless chain 127.

A metal strip 128 extends across the frame 46 and is secured to the upper surfaces of the beams 47 near their forward ends and is provided with a plurality of depending fingers 129 which are disposed between the toothed portions 119 of the disks 118 to provide a cleaning device for the feed wheel 117. The beams 47 may be provided with a handle 130 which is fixed thereto and projects from the forward end, as seen in Figure 1. Stops 131 are secured to the inner sides of the standards above the level of the top of the log-guiding roller 74 and are adapted to be engaged by the front cross brace 50 to limit downward swinging movement of the frame 46 to prevent the feed wheel 117 from striking the angle roller 74 or the top plate 64.

Assuming that a substantially straight length of wood such as a tree limb or trunk 132 is to be peeled or debarked, the sleeves 85 are positioned as illustrated in Figure 2, and one end of the piece 132 is placed upon the top plate 64, the other end extending outwardly from the left side 23 of the machine 15. When thus disposed, a portion of the limb or trunk 132 will rest upon the roller 92 and against the roller 94 at the left side of the machine 15. Assuming that the feed screws 77 have been adjusted to position the log-guiding roller 74 at an angle as illustrated in Figure 2, the belt 29 is driven for driving the shaft 27 counterclockwise as seen in Figure 3. By the driving connection as previously described, this will cause the cutter head 103 to be revolved in the same direction and the shaft 35 will likewise be revolved counterclockwise while the shaft 39 will be driven in the opposite direction or clockwise, as indicated by the arrows in Figs. 1 and 3.

Accordingly, the feed wheel 117 will be revolved clockwise as seen in Figure 3 and in so moving will initially ride over the trunk or limb 132 and will cause said trunk or limb to roll down the inclined top plate 64 and abut the angularly positioned guide roller 74 until the wheel 117 has assumed its position of Figure 3 relatively to the log 132. Since the plane of each disk 118 of the feed wheel now lies at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the log, each tooth 119 will exert a tangential force having two components, one component extending tangentially to the log circumference and causing the log to rotate, such rotation of the log also causing the guide roller 74 to idly rotate, and the other component extending axially of the log and causing the log to feed toward the right-hand side of the machine. Said tangential component will cause the log 132 to rotate about its longitudinal axis in a counterclockwise direction as seen in Figure 3 and the guide roller 74 will be revolved in a clockwise direction by reason of its content with the trunk 132, and said axial component will feed the trunk toward the right-hand side 24 of the machine 15 and onto the roller 92 thereof and against the forward side of the roller 94. At the same time the cutter head 103 will be revolving counterclockwise as seen in Figure 3 and will be supported in a raised position by the springs 100 so that the blades will successively protrude through the plate opening 66 for peeling the bark 133 from the trunk or limb 132 as adjacent portions of parts 103 and 132 move in opposite directions. The cutting depth of the blades 104 is determined by adjustment of the depth gauges 109, as previously described, for varying the thickness of the bark which will be removed. The springs 100 will yield to allow the crossbar 95 and the remainder of the cutter supporting frame to swing downwardly about its pivot 27 to compensate for irregularities in the periphery of the trunk or limb 132.

The cutter 103 is driven at uniform speed but the speed at which the tree trunk is moved transversely across the machine 15 may be varied by adjustment of the lever 54 to adjust the tension of the belt 38 and consequently to vary the speed at which the shafts and 39 are driven and thus to vary the speed at which the feed wheel 117 is revolved, the magnitude of the aforementioned axial component of the feed wheel being correspondingly increased or decreased. Additionally, the feed screws 77 may be adjusted for varying the angle of the axis of the roller 74 (and hence the longitudinal axis of the log 132) relatively to the transverse axis of the machine 15 (which parallels the shaft 116 of the feed wheel 117) for correspondingly varying the magnitude of the axial component of the feed wheel so as to vary the speed at which the trunk 132 is moved through the machine. The greater the angle between the longitudinal axes of the log and the shaft 116, the faster the tree trunk 132 will be fed, so that clockwise adjustment of the axis of the log-abutting roller 74 from its position of Figure 2 will result in a slower feeding of the trunk 132. As the trailing end of the trunk 132 passes out of engagement with the feed wheel 117 the frame 46 will swing downwardly and the bottom portion of the strip 122, as seen in Figure 13, will come to rest upon the trunk 132 for supporting the frame 46 until the trailing end of the trunk has slid past the cam surface 123, the cam surface tending to displace the trunk 132 toward the right-hand side of the machine. The frame 46 will then swing downwardly until the front cross piece 50 comes to rest upon the stops 131, as previously described.

It will be noted that since the crossbar 80 is swung by movement of the angle bars 67 relatively to one another, the upright rollers 94 always remain slightly to the rear of the forwardmost portion of the angle roller 74 so that the tree trunk can slide along these rollers While moving across the machine and so that the leading end of the tree trunk will not strike against the right-hand roller 94 when the trunk reaches the right-hand side 24 of the machine.

The machine 15 will also function efiiiciently for debarking or peeling crooked limbs or branches. When so employed, the sleeves are displaced forwardly and then turned to horizontal inoperative positions and latched by means of the notches 86a, as previously described, so that the rollers 92 and 94 will not function. The crooked piece 132 can be revolved freely on the top plate 64 and the springs will yieldably maintain the cutter 103 in cutting engagement with the trunk as it is revolved in the opposite direction to the cutting blades 104. For debarking or peeling very large diameter pieces 132 the roller 74 is adjusted rearwardly by turning both feed screws 77 or for very small diameter pieces the roller 74 is adjusted forwardly and toward the feed wheel 117'. Any snow, ice, loose bark or other foreign material which may be picked up between the teeth 119 and the disks 118 will be dislodged therefrom by the cleaning fingers 129 as the feed wheel 117 revolves.

Various modifications and changes are contemplated and may obviously be resorted to, without departing from the funct1on or scope of the invention as hereinafter defined by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. debarking or peeling machine of the character described comprlsing an elongated frame having a top plate adapted to support a log or the like to be debarked or peeled, said plate being provided with an opening, a feed wheel having a toothed periphery adapted to engage the log, a log-guiding and log-abutting roller idly ournaled in said frame, means supporting said feed wheel on the frame for gravity urged downward movement 1nto engagement with the log, means for driving sard feed wheel for rotating the log about its longitudinal ax1s and for urging the log toward and into peripheral contact W1th said idling roller, a rotary cutter, means connected to said frame for yieldably supporting said cutter beneath said plate and yieldably urging a portion of the cutter upwardly through the plate opening and mtocontact with the periphery of the log, and means drlving said cutter for debarking the log as the log is revolved on said plate.

2. machine as in claim 1, said roller being disposed With Its axis at an angle to the axis of the feed wheel, and manually operable means for angularly adjusting the axls of said roller for varying the rate of movement of the log across the cutter relatively to the rate of rotation of the log about its longitudinal axis.

3. A machine as in claim 2, and means for moving said roller relatively to the plate toward and away from the feed wheel and cutter for adjusting the machine to logs of different diameters.

4. A machine as in claim 1, said plate being inclined downwardly in a direction toward said roller.

A machine as in claim 4, and log-supporting means supported by said frame beyond and spaced from the ends of said roller including horizontal roller elements on which portions of the log rest and vertical roller elements against which portions of the log are directed by said feed wheel and the inclined plate.

6. A machine as in claim 5, and means connecting said log-supporting means to the means for angularly adjusting the roller for maintaining said vertical roller elements in alignment with a longitudinal portion of the roller in the different adjusted positions of the roller.

7. A machine as in claim 6, supporting members ad- 85 justably supporting said horizontal and vertical roller elements relatively to the frame and latches associated with said last mentioned means for releasably latching and retaining said roller elements in either raised, operative positions or lowered, inoperative positions.

8. A machine as in claim 1, a depth gauge unit mounted on the rotary-cutter-supporting means and adjustable relatively to the rotary cutter for varying the cutting depth of the cutter.

9. A machine as in claim 1, said rotary-cutter-supporting means including an elongated frame swingably supported adjacent one end thereof on said first mentioned frame for vertical swinging movement, said rotary cutter being mounted adjacent the other free end of said cutter-supporting frame, and resilient hanger means suspended from said first mentioned frame and yieldably supporting the cutter frame near its free end and constituting a part of said yieldable supporting means.

10. A machine as in claim 1, said feed-wheel-supporting means comprising an elongated feed-wheel-supporting frame swingably mounted near one end thereof on said first mentioned frame for vertical swinging movement, said feed wheel being journaled on said feedwheel-supporting frame adjacent its other free end about an axis disposed transversely of the feed-wheel-supporting frame for swinging movement toward and away from said roller.

11. A machine as in claim 10, said feed wheel comprising a plurality of disks having toothed peripheries and a plurality of spacing elements interposed between said disks.

12. A machine as in claim 1, a driven shaft journaled in said frame, means forming a direct drive between said drive shaft and the rotary cutter, and said feed-wheeldriving means being connected to and driven from said driven shaft and including meshing gears for driving the feed wheel in the opposite direction to the rotary cutter.

13. A machine as in claim 12, said feed-wheel-driving means including an endless drive belt, and a belt tightener engaging said drive belt and adjustable for varying the tension of the drive belt for varying the speed of rotation of the feed wheel relatively to the speed of rotation of the rotary cutter.

14. A machine as in claim 13, a manually actuated lever pivotally mounted on said elongated frame for actuating said belt tightener, and latch means associated with the frame and lever for maintaining said belt tightener in different adjusted positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 347,854 Wicke Aug. 24, 1886 1,373,243 Hellstrom Mar. 29, 1921 2,498,786 Bouchard Feb. 28, 1950 2,669,266 Bouchard Feb. 16, 1954 2,684,089 Graham et a1. July 20, 1954 

